Everett: 10-Game Suspension for Head-Butting

— Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett was
suspended for 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major
League Baseball today for bumping umpire Ronald Kulpa twice in
Saturday’s game against the New York Mets.

The players’ union immediately appealed the suspension, which
means Everett can continue to play until a hearing is held by Paul
Beeston, baseball’s chief operating officer.

No date was set for the hearing.

Batter’s Box Bout

In Baltimore with the Red Sox, Everett was angry over the
punishment imposed by major league baseball.

“They tried to make me out to be a monster,” he said. “If you
listen to what was said, it’s their own opinion, not what you
actually see. It’s what they wanted everyone else to see.”

Everett, who is batting .323 and leads the Red Sox with 25 home
runs and 72 runs batted in, became furious when Kulpa, umpiring at
home plate, drew the inside line of the batter’s box with his foot,
showing where the hitter could stand.

The Boston slugger confronted Kulpa, making contact twice, the
second time with a bump to the head that sent the umpire staggering
away. Everett was thrown out of the game and continued his tirade.

He had to be restrained by teammates and coaches. When he
reached the dugout, he threw over a water cooler and threw a bat.

Mets Complained of Plate-Crowding

A night earlier, Mets reliever Dennis Cook was thrown out of the
game after hitting Everett with a pitch. Cook stormed toward the
plate, indicating that Everett’s wide-open stance takes him beyond
the batter’s box lines.

Major league baseball has reminded umpires that they can order
the lines redrawn during the game.

The batter’s box measures 4 feet by 6 feet and is outlined in
chalk on three sides with the inside line closest to home plate not
drawn.

Umpires allow 6 inches off the plate to indicate the inside
limits of the box. It was that 6-inch area that both Cook and Kulpa
said Everett had violated.